Marcela Valladolid - Casa Marcela Recipes and Food Stories of My Life in the Californias

Botanas

Ensaladas y Sopas

Platillos Fuertes

Guarniciones

Desayunos

Bebidas

Postres

First impressions are important. I knew this for a fact when I first got to know Marcela during the spring of 2013 when we were both auditioning for the Food Network show The Kitchen . We were both up for a cohost position, and we struck up a conversation about food and somehow got to talking about our experiences with French cooking and family and home cooking, and how we cooked for our children and family. I was struck by how naturally the information flowed from Marcela and how comfortable and enchanting her food experiences were. All her food and recipe experiences were totally from her family background, her stint at the Ritz Escoffier learning pastry, and what she was taught by her aunt Marcela, who had her own culinary school in Tijuana. It was then that I learned a good lesson about how we sometimes forget how important our family and its effect on our lives can be, and how lasting and incredibly deep and personal such homespun experiences are. You dont need to work as a professional chef for years on end to understand food and real cooking. I felt an immediate kinship with Marcela that has grown into a wonderful friendship and, thankfully, a lot of Food Network shows together, and it was all because of those first impressions.

Casa Marcela , her new cookbook, is another important impression. So I was so touched and honored when she asked me to write a foreword to this amazingly beautiful and deeply personal cookbook. Since this is my first ever foreword, I said I would be delighted, but only if I had all the recipes ahead of time in order to read each one of them to really understand her point of view as it relates to her blending of Mexican cuisine, of which I know very little, and classic French cuisine, which I fancy myself as pretty comfortable with. Yes, I have read all the recipes thoroughly, and quickly pronounced to my wife and three children that we will immediately learn how to cook real Mexican cuisine because we now have the best book on the subject that currently exists... I told you first impressions are important!

Marcelas food story tells itself through her love and devotion to her family and her dedication to growing most of everything she eats from her own garden. Her deeply rooted understanding and love of food, family, and nourishment in all forms is evident in every single recipe. When reading through the book for the first time, I stopped midread and started making her asado de tira , or grilled beef strips, and then immediately prepared another shopping list for the amazing jalapeo roasted chicken and Mexican ramen... yes, Mexican ramen!! And the sweet potato enchiladas, coke-braised pork tacos, squash blossom quesadillas, and, I guarantee you, the best aguachile youve ever had. The recipes are simple to follow, remarkably delicious, and, for me, an eye-opening culinary learning experience. I did not know how much I did not know about this wonderful food culture and Marcelas unique take on its cuisine. The photos of the food and her presentation and style are simply too stunning to explain, so I will simply refrain and just say, wow!

I cherish our friendship and have so much respect for Marcela. She is a delightful and deeply soulful person. This book has so brightened my culinary horizons, and I am deeply grateful for Marcela for writing such a special, creative, and inspired cookbook that will have your family begging for more. If youve held off on diving into the flavors and colors of Mexican cuisine, youre so lucky, because Marcela Valladolid has created a wonderfully warm home that you will never want to leave. Get it, read it, drink it in, and go begin your new culinary journey, as I did.

Buen Provecho ,

GEOFFREY ZAKARIAN

Iron Chef

Ive always said you are only as good as the people you are smart enough to surround yourself with, and I must be some sort of genius because the small army that helped me put this book together surpassed all my expectations and then some. This is just a list with their social media handles so you can find them.

My team, my girls, my Mexicanas , aunts to my boys, my writers, my familia :

Viviana Ley @vivianaley

Marla Marquez @mmmarqz

Valeria Linns @valerialm

Isabella Martinez-Funcke @isabellamfuncke

My photographers:

Coral von Zumwalt @coralvz

Alyssa Gonzalez @alyssagtorres

Isabella Martinez-Funcke @isabellamfuncke

The best prop stylist Ive ever known:

Robin Turk @robinturkstylist

My food stylist:

Sandra Cordero @chefsandracordero

My glam squad:

Lindsey Jones @lindseymaureenjones

Lizette Prado @liphz.makeup

Mirelle Hernandez @mimisskisss

Gala Susana Navarrete @galasglamoroustogo

The Intimate Living Interiors designer extraordinaire who helped make this home a dream come true:

Kari Arendsen @kari_arendsen

Our friends that worked on flowers, table decor, rentals, and anything creative:

Erika Funcke and Isabella Martinez-Funcke @hijadetumadredecor

Melissa Strukel and Corbin Winters @powwowdesignstudio

Sarah Neal from Catalina Neal Floral and Design @catalinaneal

Ana Isabel Hermosillo @winygram

My PR team that has been with me since day one:

The Door @thedooronline

The most patient book editor in the history of book editors, from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt:

Justin Schwartz @justcooknyc

The woman and company who helped the garden that existed in my head for almost a decade become a reality:

Karen Contreras @urbanplantations

The people that make sure Casa Marcela is in pristine condition every day and who I very much consider my family after so many years:

Mara Guadalupe Morales, Luis Galo, Selene Llamas, Mara Fernanda Morales, Leticia Barrn, and Imelda Prez